Debbie Cook

Company Administrator

As the company administrator, I oversee office administration, financial reconciliations, event management, consultancy support, director support, research, surveys, data input and analysis, and maintaining our website and online media profiles.

Having spent time as a journalist interviewing people, doing outside survey work or community engagement is a natural extension of my role. I also organise events for businesses, including Blessing Ceremonies and community engagements for Xyst projects with local iwi and mana whenua.

You can contact me for help with

My expertise

I’m a qualified journalist who served as a Sub Editor on a weekly UK gardening magazine for 10 years, as well as providing freelance contributions to other publications. I spent a further 10 years working solely as a freelance writer for NZ newspapers and overseas magazines. My experience in layout and design enables me to support the business in producing quality presentation material.

I’ve also worked in HR, and office administration roles assisting with recruitment, employment documentation, payroll programs, event management and media communications.

Qualifications

  • Certificate of Journalism, London College of Printing
  • London Chamber of Commerce Private Secretary Certificate (Bilingual – French)

Xyst in action

Every project runs better with good communication. That’s where I come in. One example was a time I assisted a consultant with external community surveys and stakeholder workshops for the long-term vision of a libraries review.

I set up a database of contacts, coordinated the invitations to workshops, communicated with a wide range of community groups and key stakeholders to inform and include in planned events, organised the facilities and equipment needed for outside surveys, and identified appropriate locations for community and workshop engagement.

The data we received gave us a perfect overview of community and stakeholder desires.

Expertise

Research

Along with Yardstick, our international benchmarking program for local government, if you need research to make good decisions, we can get it for you

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My Projects

Project Blessings

Xyst has been engaged by Waka Kotahi numerous times to assist with the organisation of blessings. These events have been both prior to works beginning

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